Energy & Clean Technologies Practice
Heller Ehrman’s multidisciplinary energy and clean technologies practice is the most established practice of its kind in any law firm in the world. We combine the skills and focus of our Venture Law Group with the expertise of our preeminent energy, project development and finance, intellectual property, tax and corporate practices to help our cleantech clients commercialize technologies, finance and build projects, and accelerate their growth.
Facts About Our Practice
- Represent over 85 energy and clean technologies companies, ranging from some of the most promising venture-backed clean technology companies, such as BrightSource Energy, GreatPoint Energy and EPV Solar, to larger, more established companies such as Applied Materials, MMA Renewable Ventures, GE Wind and Siemens.
- Provide strategic counseling from 14 offices across the U.S., Europe and Asia with a multi-disciplinary practice comprised of a group of nearly 125 clean technology lawyers.
- Work with companies pursuing and investing in renewable and cleaner fossil-fuel technologies, advanced materials and other “green” innovations including solar, wind, clean coal, biofuels, biomass, batteries/fuel cells, emissions, transportation, hydrokinetic power, energy efficiency, and green building materials.
- Maintain the largest solar practice of any law firm in the world.
- Counsel clients throughout the energy industry in all types of energy transactions, utility-scale project development and finance, federal and state regulatory proceedings, litigation, policymaking and other matters.
- Provide unrivaled industry-focused experience representing clients in project finance and development, as well as with strategic alliances including licenses, distribution and joint venture formation and agreements.
- Bring seasoned and broad experience to our relationships, representing companies and investors in thousands of venture capital and private equity financings, IPOs and mergers and acquisitions.
- Maintain deep relationships with leading venture capital and major institutional investors, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Jeffries, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
- Ranked second nationally in raising capital for venture-backed Cleantech companies in 2007 by Dow Jones VentureSource.
- Named 2008 Technology Law Firm of the Year by UK Technology Innovation & Growth Forum.
- Consistently ranked among the top 25 U.S. law firms for M&A activity by Thomson Financial, including in the first quarter of 2008.
- Selected Clients: Applied Materials, BrightSource Energy, EPV Solar, Exelon, GE Wind Energy, Gas Turbine Efficiency, GreatPoint Energy, Mechanology/General Compression, MMA Renewable Ventures, NanoGram, Ocean Power Technologies, Pacific Gas & Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Recurrent Energy, ReliOn, Sasol Synfuels, Siemens Power Group, Targeted Growth, Inc., Texas SynGas, and Xunlight Corporation.
Engagements
Solar, Wind and Hydrokinetics
- BrightSource Energy: Negotiation of power purchase and project development agreements, as well as financing for the largest solar power transaction (900 MW) in the U.S.
- MMA Renewable Ventures, Recurrent Energy, and others: Licensing and negotiation of over 50 solar power purchase and development agreements and related project financings.
- BrightSource Energy, EPV Solar, Xunlight, and others: Venture-backed and private equity financings, including the largest venture financing of any solar company in the U.S.
- Summit Power: Financing and development of numerous wind and solar power projects, including permitting, site leasing (including seabed leases) and negotiation of transmission and interconnection contracts.
Clean Coal, Emissions, Biofuels and Biomass
- Laurus Energy: Venture financing, core technology in-licensing, and project development for an underground coal gasification company.
- Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers: Represented VC in one of the largest venture financings of biofuels company in the U.S. (Altra/Malibu Biofuels).
- Targeted Growth: Financing and IP transactions for company with proprietary technology for increasing yields in seeds, plants and crops for biofuels feedstock.
- Waste Management, Inc.: Joint venture formation, project development, licensing, financing and power sales negotiations for developers in several projects to generate electricity and produce liquefied natural gas from landfill methane gas.
- Represent several clients in joint ventures with Chinese energy companies for the development of clean coal technologies and projects in China.
- Financing, spin-out and a $62 million public offering for a company that supplies emissions control systems for the coal-fired power generation industry.
Batteries, Fuel Cells, Energy Efficiency and Advanced Materials
- Altair Nanomaterials: Financing and licensing for a company with proprietary nanomaterials technology for fuel cell and PV applications.
- ReliOn: Corporate and IP transactions for company commercializing modular proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology.
- Metallic Power: Financing, licensing and other corporate matters for a company manufacturing zinc regenerative fuel cells.
- MMA Renewable Ventures: Third-party financing solution for energy efficiency and conservation equipment.
- Financing and other corporate matters for a developer of solutions that support the use of clean-burning gaseous fuels and a provider of engineered fuel delivery and storage systems to manufacturers of fuel cell and other engines.
Contacts
Elias J. Blawie
elias.blawie@hellerehrman.com
+1 (650) 233-8317
Alison J. Freeman-Gleason
a.freemangleason@hellerehrman.com
+1 (206) 389-6058
Todd G. Glass
todd.glass@hellerehrman.com
+1 (415) 772-6436
+1 (206) 389-6142
Stephen M. Davis
stephen.davis@hellerehrman.com
+1 (212) 847-8798
Scott Leonard-Morgan
scott.leonard-morgan
@hellerehrman.com
+44 (0) 20 7665 5160
Attorneys
